MSME AEO accreditation: reduced eligibility thresholds, simplified annexures, faster processing, and lower bank guarantee requirements.
MSME applicants with a valid MSME certificate receive relaxed AEO T1/T2 accreditation: document-handling threshold reduced to ten with minimum five per half-year, business activity period reduced to two years, legal/financial compliance period shortened to two years, annexures consolidated into MSME Annexure 1 (general compliance), Annexure 2 (legal, records, financial solvency) and Annexure 3 (security for T2 only), processing times shortened (T1: 15 working days; T2: 3 months), and bank guarantees reduced to 25% (T1) and 10% (T2) of non-AEO levels; continuous MSME certification must be maintained.

Section 119 order corrigendum updates table entries for Singapore and Brazil and inserts authoritative source footnotes.
Corrigendum under section 119 amends the table at paragraph 7 by replacing the Singapore and Brazil rows with revised 2019 filing-related date entries, and inserts a footnote beneath paragraph 7 listing nine web sources as the basis for the updated table information.

FCRA registration validity extension preserves expiring certificates during the amendment transition, keeping them valid through the designated extension period.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, invoking executive authority under the Act, extends the validity of FCRA registration certificates that would expire during the transitional period following the amendment notified on 29 September 2020, so that such certificates remain valid until 31 May 2021 to ensure a smooth transition to the amended regime; stakeholders are advised to take appropriate action.

Correction under section 119: updated due-date entries for Singapore and Brazil and insertion of source footnote.
Corrigendum under the administrative power revises the paragraph 7 table by replacing rows for Singapore and Brazil with corrected date sequences, and directs insertion of a footnote beneath paragraph 7 listing the internet sources relied upon for the compiled dates and references.

Electronic issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin enables exporters to claim GSP duty preference for UK-bound goods.
Addition of the United Kingdom on the e CoO Platform permits electronic issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO) under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. Valid proofs of origin are either electronic GSP Form A or an origin declaration; a physical stamp and signature are not required by UK guidance. The DGFT will not issue pre printed Form A stationery, and electronically submitted certificates will be processed through the platform's online approval process with image sign and signature. Exporters should use the e CoO landing page and designated support channels for registration and assistance.

Volatility Scan Range mandated: exchanges must adopt minimum VSRs by commodity class and conduct monthly backtesting and adjustments.
Prescribes minimum Volatility Scan Range (VSR) thresholds for option contracts by volatility category and commodity type; requires clearing corporations to backtest VSR monthly using three years' data, employing appropriate volatility estimation models (such as EWMA and implied volatility) over the relevant Margin Period of Risk; changes identified by the 15th must be implemented from the first trading day of the following month; circular effective from the first trading day of April and issued under SEBI's regulatory powers.

Daily price limits for commodity futures revised to slab-based mechanism with cooling-off, VWAP base rules and exchange reporting.
The circular revises Daily Price Limits for commodity futures by fixing the base price as prior closing (with VWAP-based rules for first trading day), prescribing initial, enhanced and aggregate slab mechanics with a fifteen-minute cooling-off period after breaches, permitting staged or exceptional relaxations tied to international price movements with immediate reporting to SEBI's surveillance, detailing VWAP-based daily settlement calculations, allowing exchanges to impose narrower DPLs based on surveillance or liquidity, and requiring system, bye-law and disclosure changes prior to implementation.

Extension of tax filing deadlines: further extensions rejected to preserve filing discipline and timely revenue collection.
The Government issued successive extensions for filing returns and tax-audit reports during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the audit-report due date linked as one month prior to return due dates; cumulative filing data and international comparison show substantial relief already granted. Considering public interest in timely revenue collection and administrative continuity, and applying deference to executive fixation of cut-off dates absent blatant arbitrariness, requests for any further extension are rejected.

Quarterly GST returns with monthly tax payments allow eligible taxpayers quarterly filing subject to interim payment and supply disclosure requirements.
The Quarterly Return Monthly Payment Scheme allows eligible FORM GSTR-3B filers to submit returns quarterly while depositing tax for the first two months of each quarter. Participants may use the Fixed Sum Method or Self-Assessment Method through FORM GST PMT-06. Outward supplies are reported quarterly in FORM GSTR-1, with an optional Invoice Furnishing Facility for selected invoices in the first two months. Deposits are applied to quarterly liability through FORM GSTR-3B. Interest depends on the payment method and timeliness, while late fee applies to delayed quarterly returns or outward-supply details.

Transfer of excess Stock Exchange contributions between Core SGFs permitted, subject to direct inter clearing transfer and Minimum Required Corpus compliance.
Transfers of a Stock Exchange's excess contribution are permitted from the Core SGF of one Clearing Corporation to the Core SGF of another in an interoperable scenario. Transfers must be initiated on request of the Exchange, effected directly by the Clearing Corporation receiving the request to the destination Core SGF, with intimation to the Exchange, and must preserve compliance with the Minimum Required Corpus of Core SGF prescribed by the regulator.

Exemption from proviso compliance requires investor waiver in prescribed format under SEBI AIF regulatory framework.
Exemption from applicability of clauses (i) and (ii) of the first proviso to Regulation 20(6) of the AIF Regulations is subject to specified conditions, including each investor furnishing a waiver to the AIF in the manner prescribed by SEBI; the circular provides the waiver format at Annexure I and issues the guidance under SEBI's investor-protection and regulatory powers.

Monthly reporting by portfolio managers: detailed AUM, inflows/outflows, transactions, performance and complaints required each month.
SEBI requires portfolio managers to submit monthly reports on the Intermediaries Portal within seven working days after month-end using the revised Annexure A format. The template collects detailed data by service type-discretionary, non-discretionary, advisory-covering client break-ups, AUM by asset class and approach, funds inflows/outflows (monthly and fiscal YTD), transaction data including portfolio turnover ratio, performance metrics with benchmark comparisons, and a complaints matrix showing pending, received and resolved counts.

MSME AEO accreditation receives simplified eligibility, compliance, security documentation, faster processing and enhanced bank-guarantee concessions for T1 and T2 applicants.
MSME applicants for Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) T1 and T2 accreditation receive relaxed eligibility, compliance, security, documentation, processing and bank-guarantee requirements. Eligibility and legal and financial compliance periods are reduced to two financial years. Rationalised MSME Annexures 1 and 2 apply to T1 and T2 applicants, while MSME Annexure 3 sets consolidated safety and security criteria for T2 physical verification. Complete applications receive shortened processing timelines and priority processing. Applicants must hold a valid MSME certificate and approved entities must maintain continuous MSME status during AEO certification.

Rule 86B authorisation empowers designated State Tax officers to act only within their respective territorial jurisdiction.
Proper officers holding the rank of Joint Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, or Assistant Commissioner of State Tax are authorised to exercise powers for the purposes of Rule 86B of the Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017. This authority may be exercised only within their respective territorial jurisdiction and is deemed effective from 1 January 2021.

Certificate of Origin authorization: association authorized to issue non-preferential certificates under foreign trade policy from Haryana.
M/s The All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (North Zone), Gurugram is authorized to issue Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) under the Foreign Trade Policy and has been added to Appendix 2E as an agency authorized to issue such certificates, listed under Haryana.

Draft survey-based quantity determination governs coal and coke clearance, with up to 2% shortage allowed and no pre-dispatch 100% weighment.
An independent draft survey report, jointly prepared by carrier and consignee and countersigned by a Customs Officer before discharge, shall be used to ascertain actual quantities of coal and coke and Customs duty recovered on that quantity; shortages up to 2% of the manifested quantity are allowed without penalty, while larger shortages require explanation and may attract penalty under Section 116. 100% weighment before dispatch is not required, and custodians may deliver cargo after OOC using weighbridges as needed.

GST registration awareness campaign restarted with help desks, trader outreach, and full enrolment of eligible traders.
Restarting the GST registration awareness campaign requires renewal of suspended camp, meeting and survey activities while maintaining social distancing, with the object of increasing trader enrolment under GST across the State. District and divisional offices are to operate Help Desks for new registration and return filing, staffed by officers familiar with registration and return procedures, and the Help Desks are to be publicised so traders can use them effectively. Registration camps, meetings and seminars are to be reorganised, remaining business establishments identified in enumeration or survey are to be fully covered, and daily progress is to be accurately uploaded in the prescribed departmental format.

Refund of security deposit: Exchanges must follow prescribed retention and release timelines upon member surrender to protect investors.
SEBI prescribes retention and release timelines for security deposits after approval of Trading Member surrender: client-facing members' deposits are to be released only after the earlier of three years from receipt of surrender application or five years from disablement of trading terminals; members who conducted only proprietary trading in the preceding three years have deposits released after the earlier of one year from receipt of surrender application or three years from disablement. Exchanges must amend bye-laws, notify members, provide website dissemination, report implementation to SEBI, and maintain arbitration mechanisms for claims.

Single Window query module enables mandatory electronic PGA queries and replies before NOC issuance in ICES.
Single Window online Query Module in ICES allows PGAs in the SWNOC role to raise electronic queries to importers/Custom Brokers via ICEGATE; PGAs may grant NOC only after all electronic replies are furnished. The NOC processing screen will display the importer's AEO status for facilitation, and officers should report system access or implementation difficulties to the designated ICEGATE and departmental email contacts. The Public Notice shall operate as a standing order for departmental staff.

SGST reimbursement procedure requires return compliance, tax payment, separate tax-period applications, demand adjustments, and excludes State-tax defaulters.
SGST reimbursement for registered hotel and tour operators requires an application in Form-1 with Forms A and B, prior filing of all due returns, payment of the computed SGST, and a separate application for each tax period. Applicants must provide an affidavit of compliance. Reimbursement is adjusted against outstanding demands and approved investment-promotion assistance, and is unavailable to State-tax defaulters or evaders. Aggregate reimbursement under all schemes cannot exceed SGST payable or deposited. Payment follows approval, budget demand and budget allocation, with prescribed records maintained.